Syria: Netanyahu Highlights Iran Connection

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked Iran and its Lebanese client, the terrorist group Hezbollah, to the massacre of innocent civilians in Syria. In a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office on May 27, the prime minister declared: “Iran and Hezbollah are an inseparable part of the Syrian atrocities and the world needs to act against them.”

The Syrian opposition would seem to agree. Sources told Israel’s left-wing Ha’aretz daily that North Korea and Russia continue to send arms to the regime of Bashar al-Assad–weapons that are funded by Iran.

The Assad regime is one of Iran’s most important clients, and provides the Tehran regime a layer of military and diplomatic insulation, as well as assisting Hezbollah with weapons and logistical support. The collapse of the Syrian dictatorship might mean greater uncertainty for the Arab world, but a definite setback for Iran and its regional ambitions.

Whatever military action is taken against Iran–likely by Israel, likely inevitable, and likely soon–it is clear that Iran is already fighting a proxy war to maintain its ability to threaten its neighbors and the world beyond.